Rolling-mill.



A, T. KELLER.

ROLLING MILL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1907.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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' WITNESSES m T N E V m A. T. KELLER.

ROLLING MILL.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 22, 1907.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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INVENTOR H] Ill VHF- WITNESSES A. T. KELLER. ROLLING MILL.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG 22, 1907 wrrNEssEs 1H: uonms PETERs c0, wasnuvamu,a. c.

A. T. KELLER.

ROLLING MILL.

APPLIOATION nun; AUG. 22, 1907.

991,070. Patented May 2, 1911.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR aim 111M,-

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UNTTE remand caries.

ALBERT 'I. KELLER, 0F PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TOMESTA MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLING-MILL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT T. KELLER, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county,Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inRolling-Mills, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of aportion of a rolling mill embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same, some of the parts being in section; Fig. 3 is aside elevation,- Fig. 4C is a detail view showing the actuatingmechanism for the movable roll and lifting weights; Fig. 5 is a detailview of the mechanism for automatically stopping the motor whichoperates said weights, the motor switch being shown diagrammatically;Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in section of a portion of the same; andFig. 7 is a detail fragmentary view showing the manner in which the rest"bars are connected to the boxes of the movable roll, Fig. 8 is a detailview showing a modification.

My invention has relation to rolling mills, and more particularly tooperating mecha nism for the vertically movable middle roll of athree-high mill, the object of my invention being to provide actuatingmechanism of this character which will obviate the use of the hydraulicmotors commonly employed, together with the difficulties of leakage andfreezing to which such motors are subject; and to provide means forautomatically stopping the actuating mechanism at the proper times.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by referenceto the accompanying drawings, it being premised, however, that variouschanges may be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In these drawings, the numeral 2 designates the roll housings, 3 thebottom roll, 1 the vertically movable middle roll, and 5 the adjustableupper roll, which may be operated by any suitable or usual form ofscrewdown mechanism.

6 designates the holding-down screws of such a mechanism, which areactuated by a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1907.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Serial No. 389,649.

motor 7 through the spur gearing 8 and 9 and the worm gearing 10.

11 designates the vertically movable boxes or carriers for the necks ofthe middle roll 4:, mounted to move in any suitable manner in the guides12 at each side of the housing windows. These boxes or carriers are rigidly connected by the rest bars 13. one at each side of the roll 4.These rest bars are rigidly secured to the boxes or carriers 11 forminga rigid connection between the two, whereby both ends of the roll arecaused to move in unison with each other and the roll is'held in properparallelism. The ends of the rest bars are extended through the windowsof the housings, as shown in Fig.7, and have pins or studs 14: to whichare connected links 15 of the operating mechanism. These links have apin and slot connection 16 at their upper ends with the arms 17 of rockshafts 18. Said shafts also carry the arms 19, from the outer ends ofwhich are suspended links or rods 20 havlng weights 21 at their lowerends, suiiiciently heavy to raise the roll 4 when free to operate.

22 is an electric motor whose armature is geared to a shaft 23, by meansof the spur gearing 24 and 25. The spur gear wheel 25 is fixed to theshaft 23, and the latter has threaded end portions of opposite handwhich engage respectively with nuts 26, which are carried by arms oflevers 27, which are loosely sleeved on the shafts 18, said levers alsohaving arms which extend underneath the arms 19 to which the weights 21are connected.

The weights 21 normally tend to hold the middle roll 4: in its highestposition. To lower the middle roll, the motor 22 is started, therebyactuating the shaft 23. This swings the levers 27 to cause their liftingarms to engage with the levers 19, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby raisingthe weights 21 and permitting the rollt to move downwardly by its ownweight. To raise the middle roll, the motor is actuated in the reversedirec tion, thereby moving the lifting arms of the levers 27 away fromthe lever arms 19 to permit the weights 21 to act. The loose connectionbetween the levers 27 and the lever arms 19 are provided, owing to thefact that the electric motor cannot be instantaneously Stopped, so thatit is desirable to have a certain lost motion in the parts. This is alsoprovided for by the pin and slot connection 16 between the lever arms 17and the links 15.

For the purpose of stopping the motor automatically at the proper times,and thus relieving the operator from the necessity of constantlywatching the mill to attend to this, Iprovide the mechanism now to bedescribed.

Mounted on the shaft 23 is a sprocket wheel 28, which is connected bysprocket chain 29 with a sprocket wheel 30 on a shaft 31 mounted insuitable bearings in the frame of the mill, as best shown in Figs. 2 andG. This shaft 31 is supported in bearings in a carriage 32, and carriesat the opposite end a nut 33, through which extends a screw 3%. The nut33 carries a bevel pinion 34:, whose teeth mesh with a fixed bevelpinion 36 on the carriage 32. To each end of the screw is pivoted a trippiece or tappet 37, which is free to swing on its pivot in onedirection, but which is held rigid against movement in the oppositedirection by interfitting shoulders 38.

39 designates a lever, which is pivoted at 40 above the screw 38 on abracket arm stl.

4-2 designate links, which have a pin and slot connection at one endwith the respective arms of the lever 39, the two links being connectedat their opposite ends by a fulcrum pin 43, and having an extending link4A; which is connected by an arm 15 with a shaft etG. To the shaft 5L6is connected in any suitable manner, the movable arm 47 of a switch forcontrolling the circuit of the motor 22, as shown in Fig. 5.

The shaft 31 is rotated by the sprocket gear during the time the shaft23 is being rotated by the motor 22. The shaft 31 in rotating carrieswith it the nut 33, screw 3% and bevel wheel 35. As the wheel 35 is thuscarried around the axis of the shaft 31, its engagement with the bevelwheel 36, fixed on the carriage, causes said wheel 35 to turn.

This rotates the nut 33 and moves the screw (which is held from turningin relation to the nut-holding swivel by the key 34) in the directioncorresponding to the direction of rotation of the motor 22. The carriage32 is so adjusted that when the middle roll reaches the desiredposition, one of the tappets 37 at the ends of the screw will engage theprojecting end 39 of the lever 39, thereby moving said lever to theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This actuates the switch arm4-7 to open the motor circuit and stop the motor. The motor is againstarted by the operation of a lever 18, which is connected to the shaft4-6 to thereby move the switch arm 47 to circuit-closing position. Theparts which are actuated by the screw 34 and the lever 48 in the mannerdescribed, have three positions, viz., a middle position,

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, in which the motor circuit is open, asecond position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, in which the motorcircuit is closed to run the motor in one direction, and a thirdposition in which the motor circuit is closed to operate it in the otherdirection. In this other position the link l i and arm 45 are boweddownwardly below the dotted position shown in said figure to bring theswitch arm 47 into position to connect the upper sets of the relativelyfixed motor circuit contacts. The position of the lever 48 at onceindicates to the operator the condition of the motor circuit.

The link 44 and arm 45 are moved to the central position by the actionof the screw 3%, but are moved to the other two positions to close themotor circuit, by the manual operation of the lever 48. The pin 43 isattached to a sliding head or block 43* which is mounted in the fixedguides 43 With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 5, the leverwill be actuated by the tappet 37 which is shown at the upper end of thescrew 3% to thereby move said lever and the connected parts to thedotted positions shown, the lower link 42 acting upon the head 43 topull it forwardly, and the pin in the upper arm of said lever movingidly in the slot in the upper link 42. lVhen the switch 17 is in itsother circuitclosing position, the motor is revolving in the oppositedirection, which, of course, effects an endwise move ment of the screw34 in the opposite direction through its nut 33. The lever 39 must nowbe actuated by the reversely working tappet 37 at the other end of thescrew. Consequently, the lever 39 will be moved in the oppositedirection to that shown by the dotted lines, and the cross-head 43 willbe pulled forwardly by the upper link 42, the pin at the lower arm ofthe lever 39 moving loosely back in the slot in the end of the lowerlink. The lever arms 44 and 45 are therefore always moved by theoperation of the tappets to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.5.

In view of the fact that the upper roll 5 is adjusted to variouspositions by the screwdown mechanism to accommodate differentthicknesses of metal, it is necessary to provide means for effecting thecorresponding adjustment of the carriage 32. That is to say, when theupper roll is adjusted downwardly for a comparatively thin piece ofmetal, the middle roll of course has a movement of correspondingly lessextent, and therefore it is necessary that the motor 22 shall make fewerrevolutions than are required when the upper roll is at a higherposition and the middle roll has farther to move.

I provide for the proper adjustment of the carriage 32 by means such asnow described: The shaft 10, which is driven by the motor 7, and whichcarries the worms for operating the screw-down mechanism, is provided atits opposite end with a sprocket wheel 49, which is connected by a chain50 with a sprocket wheel 51 on a shaft 52. The shaft 52 carries a bevelpinion 53, which meshes with a corresponding pinion at on a screw-shaft.55, which passes upwardly to a nut 56 on the carriage 32. The screwshaft is fixed at its upper and lower ends so that its vertical movementis pre vented, and when rotated by the shaft 52 it causes the nut 56 andthereby the carriage 32 to move up or down a distance proportionate tothe movement of the upper roll under the simultaneous actuation of thescrew-down mechanism. In this manner, the position of the carriage 32 isregulated by the position of the upper roll, so that the screw 34 has agreater or less distance to move before it actuates the motor switch.

The advantages of my invention result from the provision of the meanswhereby the middle roll may be operated by an electric motor. This isvery desirable in an electrically driven mill, and also in that theoperation of a motor of this kind does away with objections which areinherent in the use of the hydraulic motors commonly employed. The meansfor {automatically stopping the motor 22 at the proper times relievesthe attendant from the necessity of doing this work, and overcomes theliability to accidents due to negligence or improper operation on hispart.

It will be obvious that my invention is susceptible of variousmodifications. Thus, the motor-controlling switch may be connected invarious ways to the movement which is operated by the screw 3st; thismovement may itself be of various characters; and the shafts 31 and 52may be driven in various other ways. Thus, in Fig. 8, I have shown amodification in which the rollnecks extend through the housing windowsinto levers 11 which are loosely supported at one end from the rollhousings by links 11". To the opposite end of each of said levers isconnected link 15*, similar to the links 15 and actuated in a similarmanner. In this form, but one counterweight is required, and theactuating shaft 23 has, of course, but a single threaded portion.

lVhat I claim is r- 1. In a. rolling mill, a vertically movable roll,oppositely disposed weighted levers at each end of said roll arranged tolift the roll from opposite sides and both ends, a rotary motor, andconnections from the motor to both sets of levers actuated by therotation of the motor for lifting the said levers; substantially asdescribed.

2. In a three-high rolling mill, a vertically movable middle roll,oppositely disposed weighted levers arranged to lift said roll fromopposite sides, a motor for operating the levers to raise the weights,and lost motion connections between the motor and weighted levers, saidconnections being arranged to permit a movement of the motor after themovable roll has completed its upward movement; substantially asdescribed.

3. In a threehigh mill, a vertically movable middle roll, linksconnected thereto, rock shafts having arms to which the links areconnected at their free ends, weights attached to oppositely extendingarms on said shafts, levers loosely fulcrumed on said shafts and havinga loose engagement with the weight arms, and a motor connected to saidlevers; substantially as described.

4. In a three-high rolling mill, a vertically movable middle roll, rockshafts arranged to be moved in opposite directions, connections betweenthe rock shafts and the middle roll, weighted arms connected to saidrock shafts, levers for raising said weights mounted on the rock shafts,a shaft having oppositely threaded portions engaging said levers, and amotor geared to the threaded shaft to rotate the shaft and therebysimultaneously operate the levers to lift the weights; substantially asdescribed.

In rolling mill mechanism, a vertically movable roll, a motor andconnections for raising and lowering the roll, a controlling device forthe motor, manual means for starting the motor, and connections betweenthe roll and motor operated by the motor when started and arranged toactuate the controlling device to stop the motor, substantially asdescribed.

6. In rolling mill mechanism, a vertically movable roll, an electricmotor and connections for raising and lowering the roll, a switch forcontrolling the circuit of the motor, and connections between the motorand the roll whereby the switch is opened after a predetermined periodof rotation of the motor, substantially as described.

7. In a three-high rolling mill, a vertically movable middle roll, amotor and con nections for moving said roll vertically with respect tothe top and bottom rolls, a controlling device for the motor, andconnections between the roll and motor operated by the motor upon apredetermined movement of the middle roll for actuating the controllingdevice to stop the motor, substantially as described.

8. In a three-high rolling mill, a vertically movable middle roll, avertically movable upper roll, a motor and connections for moving themiddle roll relatively to the top and bottom rolls, a motor andconnections for adjusting the upper roll, a controlling device for themotor for the middle roll, connec tions between said motor and middleroll actuated by the motor for stopping it after a i predeterminedmovement of the middle roll, and means for varying the movement of themiddle roll and the stopping of its motor controlled by the movement ofthe top roll, substantially as described.

9. Mechanism of the character described comprising a frame, a rotaryshaft mounted thereon, a motor and gearing for actuating the same, saidshaft having a nut-holding portion thereon, a nut carried by saidholding portion, a screw movable through said nut, means between thescrew and the nutholding portion adapted to hold the screw from turningwith relation to said nutholding portion, gearing between the frame andthe nut adapted to actuate the nut upon rotation of the said shaft, andcontrolling mechanism adapted to control the motor, said controllingmechanism having a member adapted to be engaged by an engaging portionon said movable screw and thereby adapted to operate the controllingmechanism, substantially as described.

10. In a rolling mill, a vertically movable roll, an electric motor andconnections for raising and lowering the roll, a controller and circuitconnections for the motor, said controller having two positions in eachof which the circuit connections are completed to operate the motor inone direction, and a third position in which said connections areopened, manual means for moving said controller to either one of the twofirst named positions, and connections between the mid dle roll andmotor operated by the motor itself for moving the controller to itsthird position substantially as described.

11. In a three-high mill, a vertically movable middle roll, a motor andconnections for raising and lowering the roll, a switch controlling thecircuit of the motor, means operated by the motor for opening thecircuit after a predetermined period of operation of the same, and meanscontrolled by the movement of one of the other rolls for varying thelength of periods of such operation; substantially as described.

12. In a three-high mill, a vertically movable middle roll, a motor andconnections for raising and lowering the same, a vertically movable toproll, means for raising and lowering the same, a switch for controllingthe circuit of the motor, means operated by the motor for opening theswitch, and means controlled by the top roll adjusting means fordetermining the time of operation of said switch; substantially asdescribed.

13. In a three-high mill, a vertically movable middle roll, a verticallyadjustable top roll, a motor and connections for raising and loweringthe middle roll, a switch for controlling the circuit of the motor,devices operated by the motor for opening its circuit, a second motorand gearing for adjusting the top roll, and connections between thesecond motor and gearing and the switch-opening device for the firstmotor for varying the periods of its operation; substantially asdescribed.

14. In a three-high rolling mill, a verti-' cally movable middle roll, avertically ad just'able top roll, a motor and connections for raisingand lowering the middle roll, a switch for controlling the operation ofthe motor, a switch-opening device actuated by the motor to operateafter a predetermined period of revolution thereof, a movable carrierfor said device, gearing for adjusting the top roll, and means operatedby said gearing for adjusting the position of said carrier to therebychange the time of operation of said switch; substantially as described.

15. In a three-high rolling mill having a vertically movable middle rolland a vertically adjustable top roll, motor-controlled mechanism forraising and lowering the middle roll, a motor and gearing for adjustingthe top roll, and means for controlling the circuit of the first namedmotor which said means is controlled by the second motor; substantiallyas described.

16. In mechanism of the character described, a middle roll, verticallymovable boxes or carriers in which the roll is journaled, and rest barsconnected to and connecting the boxes or carriers, said bars extendingthrough the roll housings.

17. In a threehigh rolling mill, a vertically movable middle roll, avertically movable upper roll, a motor, and connections for moving themiddle roll relatively to the top and bottom rolls, a motor andconnections for adjusting the upper roll, a controlling device for thefirst-named motor connections actuated by the same motor and cooperatingwith the controlling device for stopping the motor dependent upon theposition of the middle roll, and means adapted to cooperate with thesecond motor and the connections between the first motor and itscontrolling means adapted to vary the time of stopping of the firstmotor according to the position of the upper roll, substantially asdescribed.

18. A rolling mill having a vertically movable roll, counterbalancedlevers on opposite sides and each end of the roll tending to move theroll in one direction, and a motor arranged to move both sets of leversin the opposite direction; substantially as clescribed.

19. A rolling mill having an adjustable roll, a second roll arranged tobe moved to and from the adjustable roll, means for moving the secondroll to and from the first roll, and means controlled by the movement ofthe first roll for regulating the movement of the second roll movingmeans; substantially as described.

20. A rolling mill including two rolls, In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set ifneans for adjusting one 101f the rolls, means my hand.

or movin the ot er r0 toward the first roll, and lneans controlled bythe adjust- ALBERT KELLER 5 ment of the first roll for controlling theWitnesses:

movement of the second roll moving means; GEO. B. BLEMING, substantiallyas described. GEO. H. PARMELEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

